Mental Health America Launches Online Support Community
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (July 26, 2010)– Mental Health America today announced it has launched the Mental Health America Support Community–a new online community that connects families, friends, and caregivers for support and inspiration.
The community has been connected in partnership with Inspire, which works with nonprofits to provide safe, online health and wellness communities to help members live mentally healthier lives.
Located at http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/community, the community will allow registered members to take part in moderated discussion groups and post personal journals, enabling them to support one another through their individual journeys and experiences.
Those joining the community will find coping strategies and answers to their questions, as well as vital support, compassion, encouragement, and inspiration from others sharing experiences similes to theirs. Registration is free; upon joining, members will have complete control of their privacy options and can communicate with others in a safe, secure environment.
The Mental Health America Support Community features 20 discussion topics. Once they have registered, members can:
- Post and participate in discussions
- Post personal stories– share as much or as little as they’d like about themselves
- Post personal photos or videos
- Invite other members to be friends
- Create a personal journal (or “blog”) where they can express their feeling and allow others to comment
- Read others’ journals to learn about their experiences
To read the entire press release at Mental Health America, click here.
Grant Funds Swimming Program
Non-swimmers and those who want to continue building their water skills will have the opportunity to participate in aquatics classes thanks to a grant from Highmark Blue Cross. The agency has provided a $5,500 grant to fund a program, “Fitness through Aquatic Exercise,” at the Barber National Institute pool.
The grant will fund enrollment for 20 participants in three swimming sessions, as well as cover the cost of new equipment including life jackets, flotation belts and additional teaching tools. Registration is currently underway for the first session, which will be held August 30 through October 22.
The program was specifically developed to make swim lessons accessible for underserved children and adults in the community. The grant is intended to fund swim and water exercise lessons for those not currently enrolled in classes, and who may not be able to afford participation. Children and adults are eligible to participate.
American Red Cross “Learn to Swim” lessons and therapeutic water activities are taught by certifies water safety instructors. The pool is maintained at approximately 90 degrees, and is one of the first in the country to feature a floor that rises to the deck, allowing access for persons with various skill levels.
Registration is available on a first come, first served basis. Participants in the first session may continue in subsequent sessions. Although assessments that determine skill levels will be done before and after each session, there are no initial skill requirements.
For more information or to register, call the Barber National Institute pool at 878-4071.
Preparing for Post-Secondary Education at Disability.gov
This guide has tools for parents to prepare them for their child's transition from public school to postsecondary education and adulthood. Includes information about laws that protect parents' rights as well as the rights of adult children in college.
For more information, check out www.disability.gov.
School District Property Tax Bills to be eliminated for 120,000 Senior Homeowners
Harrisburg – The deadline to apply for Pennsylvania’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program for older adults and residents with disabilities has been extended from June 30 to Dec. 31.
“Property Tax/Rent Rebates, combined with general property tax relief from slots gaming, will completely eliminate school property taxes for about 120,000 residents this year,” said Secretary of Revenue C. Daniel Hassell. “Governor Rendell is extending the rebate program deadline again this year because he wants to be sure everyone who is eligible has time to apply for the relief they’re owed.”
The rebate program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians who are 65 and older; widows and widowers 50 and older; and people with disabilities 18 and older. A 2006 program expansion increased the income limit from $15,000 to $35,000 (which excludes half of Social Security income) for homeowners and raised the maximum standard rebate for homeowners and renters from $500 to $650. The income limit for renters is $15,000.
The program expansion also provides for supplemental property tax rebates of up to $325 – on top of the standard rebates – to homeowners in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Scranton; and to those in other parts of the state who pay more than 15 percent of income on property taxes. As a result, the maximum rebate for those homeowners is $975.
As of May 28, the Revenue Department had received more than 533,000 rebate applications. Nearly 600,000 older Pennsylvanians and residents with disabilities are expected to benefit from the program this year, as compared to 310,000 before the 2006 program expansion.
As specified by law, rebates will begin to be distributed on July 1. After June 30, rebates will be distributed as claims are received and processed.
Obtain Property Tax/Rent Rebate claim forms (PA-1000) and related information online at www.PaPropertyTaxRelief.com or by calling 1-888-222-9190. Forms and assistance also are available at Department of Revenue district offices (listed in the government section of phone directories), local Area Agencies on Aging, senior centers and state legislators’ offices.
Claimants who already applied for Property Tax/Rent Rebates may check the status of claims online at www.PaPropertyTaxRelief.com or by calling, toll-free, 1-888-PATAXES.
The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program is one of five programs supported by the Pennsylvania Lottery. Since the program’s 1971 inception, more than $4.5 billion has been paid to eligible older adults and residents with disabilities. The expanded portion of the rebate program is paid for with revenue from slots gaming.
English Language Learners (ELL) Task Force
The ELL Task Force is a group, now over 10 years old, that meets regularly around the state to discuss the education of English language learners in Pennsylvania. There are nearly 200 people on the Task Force mailing list, including educators, social service providers, advocates, and parents. Meetings and e-mail updates enable the task force to work together on ELL concerns at both the state and local levels. For an end-of-year report on what the Task Force did this year, including information on the results of our work with the PA Department of Education, visit our ELL Task Force webpage. (And for additional resources and publications on ELL law and policy, see the Education Law Center website.) http://www.elc-pa.org/ELLTaskForce/news.html. To be added to the Task Force mailing list, contact Len Rieser at lrieser@elc-pa.org.
PASchoolTalk
PASchoolTalk is a new site that provides a forum for people who have concerns and ideas about public education in Pennsylvania. Some ELL Task Force members have already joined the site. We’d really like to see more ideas and information on ELL issues on the site – but that will only happen if more join.
Goodwill GoodGuides™ Program To Help Mentor Teens
Goodwill Industries® of Ashtabula Inc. serving NE Ohio and NW Pennsylvania is proud to have launched a new program in Erie and Ashtabula designed to assist youth in overcoming disadvantages and avoiding delinquency. The effort is part of a national mentoring program known as Goodwill® GoodGuides™ that helps teens finish school and transition into productive careers through the guidance of trusted adults.
The Goodwill GoodGuides™ program in Erie and Ashtabula is made possible through a two-year, $299,723 grant to Goodwill of Ashtabula. The donation is part of a $19.1 million award to Goodwill Industries International from the U.S. Department of Justice and dispersed to 56 independent Goodwill agencies around the country.
The overall goal of the Goodwill GoodGuides™ program is to help youth build career plans and skills, and prepare for school completion, post-secondary training and productive work by providing structured and supportive relationships with trusted adult mentors. It targets youths between the ages of 12 and 17 who are at-risk for dropping out of school, facing legal troubles, or are at risk for delinquency due to issues such as abuse, disability, drug or alcohol dependence, or gang membership.
If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer mentor or know of a youth who would benefit from this program, please contact Scott Nevel or Anna Brzozowski at (814) 456-2036 / (440)969 4824 or e-mail: goodguides@suite224.net.
Citizen Action Committee
The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, OVR, Erie District Office is looking for citizens to participate in their Citizen Action Committee, CAC. The OVR Erie District Office provides vocational rehabilitation services to persons with disabilities in Erie, Crawford, Mercer, Venango, Clarion, Forest or Warren counties.
The purpose of the CAC is to support and promote the vocational interests and welfare of persons with disabilities. The CAC also provides advice and suggestions to improve ongoing programs designed to assist persons with disabilities in reaching their vocational goals and makes recommendations for needed rehabilitation services in the community.
If you are interesting in participating on this committee, please contact Jack Hewitt, District Administrator of the OVR Erie District Office, at 814-871-4551, 1-800-541-0721 (voice), or 1-888-217-1710 (TTY), or by email at jhewitt@state.pa.us.
Big Changes Happened for the Credit Card Business
Source: Voices for Independence Newsletter, Mike McCracken
The CARD Act, which was signed into law last May, went into effect on February 22, 2010. There will be changes for anyone carrying a credit card issued in the United States. For the card user, it will eliminate some of the practices like double-cycle billing, arbitrary rate increases and hefty fees for exceeding your credit limit.
While the new law promises consumers more transparency about their credit card bill, cardholders still need to watch out for a while new series of traps and tricks. The new law sets no restrictions on the types of fees issuers can implement. An example is charging a 2% fee on all purchases made outside of the United States. Also, things like changing the 3% fee, once the standard charge from rolling over a balance from one credit card to another, to a 5% fee. Consumers should pay particularly close attention to the “Terms and Condition” section of their statement so they know exactly for what they are being charged.
As part of the CARD Act, credit card companies will be severely restricted in how they market cards to college students, potentially shrinking an important part of their business. College students will now have to prove income, or have a parent co-sign. There are also other limitations. Consumers with a poor credit history may find it difficult to get a card.
One of the biggest victories for consumers in the new law is a series of limits on how and when credit card companies can set interest rates. Issuers now have to alert you at least 45 days in advance before raising your rate under the CARD Act. To counter this, some banks have moved consumers over to so-called variable rate cards, whose rates fluctuate on the direction of the prime rate.
Lead Poisoning Home Checklist
Source: Lead Awareness Program
The following questions will help you determine if your family is at risk for lead poisoning
1. Was your home built before 1978?
A majority of homes built before 1978 (especially homes built throughout the 1940’s to 1960’s), contain lead-based paint, which can have a dangerous effect on the health of young children (under the age of six) and pregnant women.
2. Do you see walls, furniture, or windowsills in your home with chipping or peeling paint?
Lead-based paint is unsafe if it peels, chips, or cracks. Harmful lead dust is created when windows, doors, edges of stairs, rails, or other lead-based painted surfaces wear away over time. You or your landlord can get your home checked for lead by hiring a trained, certified professional. Many young children put their hands or other objects covered with lead dust in their mouths, which can cause serious damage to their health. Wash children’s hands, bottles, pacifiers, and toys often.
3. Do your children plan in lead-contaminated soil near your home?
Soil around homes with lead-based paint may have lead chips, dust, or flakes in it. Children can accidentally swallow this soil while playing outdoors, or the soil may be tracked indoor from shoes onto carpets and floors where children can eventually come into contact with it. Teach children to wipe and remove their shoes, as well as to wash their hands, after playing outdoors.
4. Do you store food in imported pottery that contains lead?
Imported pottery and dishware usually contain lead. To protect your family from lead poisoning, use imported pottery only for decoration, and keep food and drinks in other safe, storage containers.
5. Do you work with lead in your job?
You may be exposed to lead on the job if you work as a painter, ironworker, construction workers, cable splicer, automobile radiator repair mechanic, firearms instructor, metal shop worker, stained glass artist, or battery maker. If you work in a lead-related industry, change your work clothes before entering the home, wash your clothes separately from the clothes you wear around your family, and remove shoes before entering your home, as lead can be tracked indoors onto carpets, floors, and furniture.
If you have answered yes to any of these questions, have your home tested by a certified professional by contacting 1-800-424-LEAD (5323) or visiting www.epa.gov/lead. If you rent, find out if your landlord has checked your home for lead. Have your children tested for lead poisoning by asking your doctor or your health specialist at a Head Start center to do a simple blood test. Medicare should pay for the cost of the lead poisoning test.
The Regional Cancer Center 2010 Mobile
Mammography Schedule
Women over the age of 40 should be screened every year for breast cancer. The Regional Cancer Center is providing mammograms to women across Erie County.
Funding is available for women without insurance through Pennsylvania's Healthy Women program and the Pittsburgh Affiliate of the Komen for the Cure Foundation. Appointments are required. Call 814-838-9000 or 800-477-6647.
For the complete 2010 Mobile Mammography Schedule, please click here, or check out the Erie Sprout Calendar.
Text4Baby
Text4baby is a free mobile information service designed to promote safe pregnancy and healthy birth outcomes, particularly among underserved populations.
An educational program of the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition (HMHB), text4baby will help women in having safe and healthy pregnancies by providing them with information they need to give their babies the best possible start in life.
Text4baby is the largest national mobile health initiative to date and is being launched by an unprecedented group of public and private partners, including the White House and the Department of Health and Huma Services (HHS).
To sign up, text BABY or BEBE to 511411, or visit www.text4baby.org
New Resource Available for Parents and Educators
Learntobehealthy.org is an online health science learning site designed to help educators, parents and community leaders communicate important health concepts to students. The site contains comprehensive lesson plans, interactive games and activities, webquests and more. The goal of the site is to inspire students and their families to make health choices that will last a lifetime.
To learn more, visit www.learntobehealthy.org
Updated list of Angel Food Ministry Locations in Erie County
Albion
Albion Church of the Nazarene, 9580 Rt. 6N West
Phone: 814-756-4741
Cambridge Springs
Teelpleville Methodist Church, 30576 Teeplevile Rd
Phone: 814-398-1199
Corry
Evangelical UMC, 921 North Center Street
Phone: 814-665-0344, 814-665-4008
Erie
St. Johns Lutheran Church, West 23rd and Peach Street
Phone: 814-456-8884
Lawrence Park
St. Mark the Evangelist Church, 695 Smithson Avenue
Phone: 814-898-1999
McKean
St. Francis Xavier, 8880 West Main Street
Phone: 814-460-2027
Union City
Union City Apostolic Christian Church, 5000 Rt. 6
Phone: 814-438-7125
Edinboro
C.O.P.E, 216 West Plum Street
Phone: 814-734-4237, 814-734-4951
Earned Income Tax Credit Information
With the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), you could get up to $5,600 extra back from the IRS. Single or married, with or without children, you may qualify if you:
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Worked part or all of 2009
File a 2009 federal tax return
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Make less than $48,000
Free tax preparation is available for eligible individuals. For more information call 1-888-829-5680 or visit www.erieFREEtaxes.org
Special Education Eligibility Guidelines
Parents if your child is eligible for special education did you know:
1.
Only you can excuse professional members of the school team from your IEP meeting. Fore example if your child has Speech, Occupational or Physical therapy only you can excuse their presence.
2.
There should always be a special education teacher present and at least one of your child’s regular education teachers.
3.
There should always be a local education agent at your meetings. (LEA rep) This is a person authorized to approve an aide or any monies necessary to meet your child’s needs.
4.
You can bring whoever you want to an IEP meeting.
5.
IEP meetings should be held at your convenience and with enough time allotted to discuss and make changes to the draft document
6.
You can ask for additional goals to be added to any IEP.
7.
Goals must be clearly understood and be measurable. (A good rule of thumb, close your eyes and imagine your child doing this goal, if you can then it is probably a good goal for your child)
8.
Education should take place in the least restrictive environment
9.
Curriculum should be modified to meet your child’s needs.
10.
You can always request an assistive technology evaluation. There are technologies available that support children who have a difficult time with Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Math to name a few.
11.
The Notice of Recommended Educational Placement (NOREP) does not need to be signed at the IEP meeting. This is the legal document that you sign agreeing with the child’s program, and placement. It is always best to take home and read over the IEP changes and then decide whether or not you agree. You have 10 days to do this or the IEP will go into effect whether you agree or not.
12.
There are experts available from the IU 5 and PATTAN if your IEP team gets stuck on how to best support your child.
This information has been brought to you by Kathy L.
for more information contact Jill Hrinda-Patten Director of Mission Empower at 814-825-0788
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